Doctor Who fans were filled with excitement as the latest Christmas Special, “Joy to the World,” aired on Disney+. This special saw the return of Ncuti Gatwa, known for his role in Netflix’s Sex Education, as the Fifteenth Doctor. He was joined by guest star Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton fame. Fans were also thrilled by the return of Steven Moffat, the former showrunner of Sherlock, who wrote some of Doctor Who’s most iconic episodes since its 2005 revival.
The special, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai (known for Riverdale and Bridgerton), follows the Doctor at the Time Hotel, a venue offering holiday packages to any moment in time. After a dramatic season finale, the Doctor is now alone and finds himself in the year 4202, where he teams up with Joy, played by Coughlan. Joy is tied to a case with the potential to end the universe, but as it’s Christmas, disaster is averted.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Moffat and showrunner Russell T Davies discussed several key elements of the special, including the numerous Easter eggs hidden within the Time Hotel. Moffat revealed that he had pitched various ideas for doors in the hotel, including one to a “Leaning Tower of Pisa” and another to a submarine.
The inclusion of a shop named after Mr Benn, a beloved children’s show, and the bar named after The Time Traveler’s Wife character Henry DeTamble, were other fun nods. They also joked about the appeal of the “submarine room,” considering it an ideal spot to visit during Christmas.
Doctor Who Special ‘Joy To The World’ (Photo: Doctor Who/Disney +)Moffat also expressed his enthusiasm for the Time Hotel as a concept, suggesting it could easily become a spin-off. The idea of a new generation experiencing Mr. Benn-style adventures was something he believed could be explored further, especially with the Doctor’s love for time travel. Despite the comedic nature of the special, Moffat noted that sometimes it was necessary to have lighthearted moments that could bring the Doctor to the Time Hotel again in future episodes.
The interview also touched on the emotional and political elements of the special. A poignant moment in the episode sees Joy reveal how she lost her mother to COVID-19, but couldn’t be with her due to restrictions, while others partied. Moffat explained that the anger surrounding the pandemic’s fallout was something that many could relate to, and it felt important to acknowledge this in the special. Davies also agreed, stating that it would have been irresponsible not to reference it, given its significance in recent history.
Finally, the special ended with a heartwarming nod to the nativity story. The Doctor and Joy visit Bethlehem in the year “0001,” with Joy becoming a visible star to guide the people to the manger. Moffat embraced this as a fitting end to the Christmas special, drawing a connection to the timeless tale of the birth of Christ. Davies also humorously added that he had plans to write a story set in Bethlehem, imagining a twist where Mary gave birth to twins, further highlighting the lighthearted nature of the special.
